Make-A-Wish Foundation of Wisconsin, Inc

Wishes create memories that last a lifetime. From becoming a fireman to shopping sprees, iPads to meeting a favorite celebrity figure, your support will go a long way to ensure every medically-eligible child, regardless of the family’s income has the ability to replace fear with confidence, sadness with joy and anxiety with hope. It is predicted that over 500 Wisconsin children will be diagnosed with a critical illness in 2021. In fiscal year 2020, Make-A-Wish Wisconsin granted 265 wishes, compared to our typical 400 wishes, due to the constraints of COVID 19. We need your help as we work diligently to close this gap.

Wish referrals may come from anyone ― doctors, nurse practitioners, social workers or other health care professionals, parents, friends, neighbors, teachers, clergy or even the children themselves. Make-A-Wish Wisconsin works closely with medical professionals to ensure that children who medically-qualify are given the opportunity to receive a wish.

Once a child medically qualifies for a wish, as confirmed by his or her treating physician, the dreaming begins. Wishes generally fall into one of four categories, "I wish to go," "I wish to meet," "I wish to have," or "I wish to be." The Make-A-Wish Wisconsin Mission Delivery Team, along with help from wish granting volunteers assigned to each family, work to determine each child's wish. Wishes currently fall into the following categories, Disney-Related 33%, travel 18%, shopping 9%, camper/sports equipment 7%, room makeover 6%, motorized vehicles 6%, celebrity 5%, playhouse/playset 5%, other 4%, hot tub/swimming pool 3%, electronics 2%, cruise 1%, and education 1%.

Prior to COVID 19, a wish was typically fulfilled within six to nine months, but always at the family’s convenience. In an emergency or rush situation, wishes have been fulfilled in as little as 48 hours.

In 1980, 7-year-old leukemia patient, Chris Greicius realized his dream of becoming a police officer when a group of caring volunteers swore him in as an honorary Arizona Highway Patrolman. Chris’ inspirational wish eventually led to the creation of Make-A-Wish®, the world’s largest wish-granting organization. There are 59 Make-A-Wish® chapters in the United States and its territories, and 38 international affiliates who grant wishes for children in more than 50 countries on 5 continents.

Make-A-Wish® Wisconsin opened its doors in 1984, granting its first wish to Catina, who wished to meet Michael Jackson. In fiscal year 2020 (September 2019 – August 2020), we granted 265 wishes. Since its inception, more than 7,200 families can attest to the transformative power of a wish!

In Wisconsin, over 500 trained volunteers statewide, an active Board of Directors, and 22 passionate staff members support the fulfillment of our mission. Make-A-Wish Wisconsin has built solid working relationships with the medical community across the state, acknowledging that these relationships are essential to reaching every medically-eligible child. Several doctors serve on Make-A-Wish Wisconsin’s medical advisory board and assist with outreach to help fellow doctors with medical eligibility questions.

. In fiscal year 2020, Make-A-Wish Wisconsin granted 265 wishes, compared to our typical 400 wishes, due to the constraints of COVID 19. In Wisconsin, 75% of wishes typically involve travel. More than 220 wish kids have had their wish experience delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic, and that number continues to grow. Especially now, with a record 450 wishes pending, we remain committed to delivering hope to wish kids and their families. During these challenging times, we are seizing the opportunity to reimagine our processes and how we grant life-changing wishes. Virtual wish reveal celebrations, socially distanced deliveries and caravans of support are some of the ways our team is providing transformational experiences that make a life-long impact. Although the way we grant wishes may have changed, our mission and vision remain the same. We are dedicated to making every medically-eligible child’s wish come true.

As we prepare for the day we can continue to grant the wish of every eligible child and get back to the children who have been waiting because of COIVD-19, we need your help to ensure that funding is available. We do not want any child waiting for the transformational hope a wish provides. You can help fund specific wish categories, including rush wishes, playset wishes, room makeovers, and more. You can also request to fund wishes based on the child’s diagnosis, geography, etc. Your grant today will help make every wish come true. Together, we can continue to be a light of hope throughout this time of crisis – and beyond!